Aeroplane



P 1931- E. A. HUSEBY 1,823,655

AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 15, 1931. E. A.HUSEBY AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 15,1931 PATENT OFFICE EDMUND A. HUSEBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AEROPLANEApplication filed January 16, 1928. Serial No. 246,936.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, and has reference moreparticularly to improved means for increasing the vacuum effect on thetop side of the plane or planes of the machine, soas to give the lattergreater buoyancy in the air. It is Well known that the upward andforward inclination of the plane relatively to the direction of travelcreates a less than atmospheric pressure, or a slight suction liftingeffect, on the upper surface of the plane; and the object of my presentinvention is to provide an improved means for increasing this suctionlift on the plane, said means being preferably operated directly orindirectly by the aeroplane motor. To this end, my invention, in onepractical embodiment thereof, takes the form of a tube on or embedded inthe upper side of either the trailing or forward beam of the top planeof a biplane or the single plane of a monoplane, said tube being closedat its ends and formed with perforations in its upper side openingthrough the top surface of the plane, and a pipe connecting said tube 2with the air intake of the aeroplane motor, whereby the air suctioneffect of the motor is distributed through said tube and itsperforations to the body of air directly above the plane, therebylowering the pressure of said air body, or, in other words, exerting anupward suction or lifting effect on the plane.

My invention, its operative principle, and its practical advantages,will be readily un derstood by persons skilled in the art of aeronauticsfrom the following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings showing a simple embodiment thereof, in which Fig.l is a top plan view of an aeroplane of the biplane type, equipped withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fore and aft section through the plane, on an enlargedscale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a vent valve in the air suction pipe;

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the body or fuselage of abiplane, 11 and 12 the upper and lower planes or wings conuected by thestruts 13 and brace wires 14, 15

the propeller, 16 the rudder, and 17 the landing wheels, all as usual inbiplanes of this type. In such machines the plane itself usuallycomprises a light wood skeleton frame comprising front and trailinglongi- "1'.

tudinal I-beams 18 and 19 respectively, transverse connecting andspacing strips 20, and a thin shell forming the transversely convexupper surface 21 and the substantially flat or slightly concave undersurface 22 of the plane.

In carrying out the invention, one of the beams 18 and 19 (preferablythe trailing beam 19) is channeled in and lengthwise of its top surfaceto receive a tube 23. The ends of this tube are closed and the topportion thereof lies in and fits a slot 24 in the top wall 21 of theplane, and the exposed top portion of the tube is formed with a row ofholes 25, which preferably are graduated as to size, being largest atthe outer ends of the tube and decreasing in size toward the middle. Thetube 23 is conveniently made in two sections, the inner ends of whichare fitted into the head of a T-coupling 26, and the stem of saidcoupling is connected by a pipe 27 and branch pipes 28 with the airintake manifolds 29 of the aeroplane motor. Since in a multiple cylindermotor the inflow of air through the manifolds 29 is practicallycontinuous, it follows that there is a practically continuous suctionthrough the holes 25 of the tube 23 whereby the air above the plane, andpar ticularly in the region above the tube 23, is rarefied, thusproducing a suction lifting effect on the plane.

The arrangement shown and described im poses no additional load on theaeroplane motor. A plurality of such tubes might, of course, beemployed; and; in lieu of a tube, a hollow member of a different formmight be employed having holes open above the upper surface of theplane.

When descending for the purpose of landing or seeking a lower altitude,it is desirable to intermit the partial vacuum above the plane, and forthis purpose the air suction pipe 27 may be equipped with a vent valve30, such as is illustrated in Fig. 4, by a quarter turn of which theconnection of pipe 27 to the tube 23 is'cut ofi' and said pipe is ventedlaterally to the atmosphere.

I claim 1. The combination with an aeroplane, of

- a hollow member mounted on a plane thereof formed with holes openabove the top surface of the plane, and a pipe connecting said hollowmember with the air intake manifold o the aeroplane motor. s

2. The combination with an aeroplane, of a tube mounted on a planethereof, said tube being closed at its ends and formed in its upper sidewith holes open above the top surface of the plane, and a pipeconnecting said tube with the air intake manifold of the aeroplanemotor.

3. The combination with an aeroplane, of a tube mounted on andlengthwise of a plane thereof, said tube bein closed at its ends andhaving in its upper si e a row of holes open above the top surface ofthe plane and of increasing size from the center to the ends thereof,and a pipe connecting the central portion of said tube with the airintake manifold of the aeroplane motor.

4. The combination with an aeroplane having a frame formed with alongitudinal beam channeled in its upper side and a top wall formed witha slot registering with said channel, of a tube seated in said channelwith its upper side filling said slot, the ends of said tube beingclosed and its upper side having a row of holes, and a pipeconnectingsaid tube with the air intake manifold of the aeroplane motor.

5. The combination with an aeroplane, of a hollow member mounted on aplane thereof formed with holes open above the top surface of the plane,a pipe connecting said hollow member with the air intake manifold of theaeroplane motor, and a valve in said pipe whereby the communication ofsaid hollow member with said pipe may be cut off and said pipe venteddirectly to the atmosphere.

EDMOND A. HUSEBY.

